This is a 1900 Model, 7.65mm (.30 Cal Luger), the "old model"
transitional
frame with a Type II thumb safety
and is not marked but is polished with the extractor the old style leaf type.
The Luger has a serial numbered grip squeeze safety. There
is an "American Eagle" from the US Great Seal over the Chamber and the DWM (Deutsche Waffen-und Munitionsfabriken AG)
on the first toggle link.
The four digit serial number falls before the range of the US Military Test Guns
from the trials conducted in 1901
(1528)

One of the things "known" about Lugers
is that international law required guns made for commercial sales must
show the country of origin. Usually this was done on the early
Lugers by placing "Germany" on the front of the frame under the serial
number. This gun exhibits this 'commercial' designation
having the "German" import mark required by customs for
any weapon entering the US. This is one of the classic Lugers exported by DWM to the United States
as a pre-test model.

As the sales of the 1900 began to
take a hold and bolstered by the orders of the Swiss the DWM
salesman began to capitalize on their success with the National
symbols on the head space and produce salesman's samples for the
world market. The Serbian, King Carolos I, the 1900 Bulgarian
and Russian in addition to the South American nations were
presented with samples of the 1900 Luger for testing and trials.
This particular Luger with the early Type II thumb safety and
very early DWM proof marks was brought to the United States
before the test trial guns, more than likely as a demonstration
piece to show the US Army.

The frame is
the old "long" model with the American Eagle seal over the chamber. The thumb
safety is not marked but should be polished and extractor is marked "Loaded" in English.
The thumb safety is the 2nd design in the evolution of the Parabellum,
rounded with dicing and represents a very early edition.
This Luger has all
matching numbers. The barrel is numbered and proofed and matches the
frame.

The frame is
the old model with the American Eagle seal over the chamber. The thumb
safety is the Type II The safety is the squeeze grip
with the thumb safety "safe" in the up position.The Serial Number is
4 digits
with no "Germany" marked export stamp. These models did not have
a stock lug but do have a hold open.

This Parabellum is all matching; the magazine
is correct and does not exhibit any serial number. Not too often do you
find a 1900 with such minimal wear, let along the distinctive
fire-blued toggle connecting pins.

Left: You can see on the bottom of the
magazine what some people believe is the flaming bomb insignia of the US
Ordinance Corps. It is really an early DWM proof with the two extensions
not touching. On the right you can see the close up of the Great Seal of
the United States which DWM applied to the 1900 and 1906 models as a
sales tool for the American public. The Swiss were so impressed by
the early Swiss Cross that DWM had the American Eagle initially engraved
and then roll stamped into the chamber and so began a long series of
contract guns stamped with nationality symbols.

On March 9,
1901 the United States Board of Ordinance and Fortifications ,
through the commanding officer, LTC Frank H. Phipps ordered a
meeting of the board with Mr. Hans Tauscher, the DWM factory
representative at which the Mr. Tauscher procured to Parabellums
for preliminary test and evaluation of the Board. On March
18th, 1901 with Mr. Tauscher present the tests began and after
several days of testing the expended 2000 rounds and recommended
the U.S. Army purchase sufficient Lugers (1000) to hold field
testing trials and evaluation. Actual cost was $15,630 or
$14.75 per Luger and $.88 per extra magazine (Wow).

This model is a hold open variation.
The first toggle link is marked
with the DWM monogram. The safety is the squeeze grip
with the thumb safety "safe" in the up position. Note the
rebated trigger guard. The Serial Number is 4 digits with no small letter suffix
characteristic of the commercial models which were numbered consecutively
until 1923. No Stock Lug present.

On the bottom of the barrel and receiver
show the last two digits of the serial number on the barrel stop.

Above
Left: Another indication of the very early models
is the installation of the last two digits of the serial number
on the rounded side of the locking lever. This practice was soon
stopped due to the difficulty of proofing on the rounded
material plus the space one had to work with. The first toggle
link has the serial number on the bottom of the toggle. The rear
toggle has the serial number on the back.

In
December 1901 the US Army ordered Rock Island Arsenal to produce a
holster and rig for the distribution of the Test Guns to the various
military units. During the US Government
testing in 1901/02 of the 1900 Parabellum the American Eagle was employed as a sales tool and when
the second test began in 1907 with the order for another 1000 pistols from DWM and
1000 holsters from the Rock Island Arsenal they all had the American Eagle.
The acceptance by first the Swiss and then the Americans for their
national symbol on the gun highlights the "contract gun series"

A clean commercial all
matching Test Eagle,
absolutely correct for the 7.65mm 1900American Eagle bears the DWM early
proof mark.
These commercial Luger's were up to five digit serial numbered and the small
parts were marked in a concealed location, commonly at the bottom of the locking
lever and side plate.

The early 1900 Parabellums had a smooth
surface between the side plate and frame. The extractor is of the original
configuration of a leaf spring to extract the round when fired. The
Swiss recognized the weakness of this part of the Luger and installed a
metal extractor with a spring which DWM then redesigned the extractor
with the GELADEN printed on the left side.
The early Long Sear; the Type II thumb safety with cross hatching and Wide Grip
Safety mark the early design. Note the side bevels in
the 1st toggle link which is characteristic of the DWM produced guns.
While every Luger was interchangeable each manufacturer has some small
distinctions in their process that set them apart.

One thousand test Lugers
(7.65 cal) were delivered to the U. S. Springfield Armory in
late 1901. Most were distributed to U.S. Cavalry troops
involved in police actions in the Philippines and Cuba. As
the American Cavalry troops had used revolvers (Colt .45 and
.38) for over 30 years, the small caliber, complex Luger,
was viewed with some suspicion and not readily accepted.

There were
complaints as to small caliber, safety while riding from
horseback, and unreliable action. As a result of these
reports 50 Lugers in caliber 9mm were briefly tested by the
Army in 1904-1906 and three Lugers in .45 caliber were
tested in 1907. The Luger was rejected by the U.S. Army in
favor of the Colt M1911 in 45 caliber.

The characteristics that separate these U.S.-American
Eagle-Test Lugers from other Model 1900 Lugers are: the lack
of proofs, the lack of a "GERMANY" import stamp, and the
last two digits of the Lugers serial numbers on the right
end of the takedown lever (instead of the left lower side)
on the early models.

Very clean and minty both inside and out.
Most of these early guns were purchase and saved by the early owners and
not used as "working" guns. The last two digits of the serial number
appear on the grip safety, there is no stock lug and you can see the
long sear and the Type II thumb safety.

For the 1900's
aficionados the clean lines and perfectly machined parts harkens
back to the era of the gun craftsman whose pride in their work was
evidenced in every Parabellum produced

In 1905-1907 the
Springfield Armory called in most of the 1900 Test Lugers; 770 were
sold to Francis Bannerman and Co. at public auction around 1910.
Reportedly, some of the Lugers did not survive the tests and were
destroyed by the Army. The reported serial range for these 770 Lugers
purchased by Bannerman are 6167-96, 6282, 6361-7108, and 7147. Kenyon,
Costanzo, and Reese report a serial range of 6100 to 7100. In 1910 the
Springfield Armory reported 321 Lugers in 7.65 mm repaired. In 1911 the
Rock Island Arsenal reported 306 Lugers in 7.65 mm repaired (Scott
Meadows, U.S. Military Automatic Pistols, 1993, page 386).

Above at (A) reveals the two ply leaf
spring; (B) you can see the portion of the toggle lock that is silver
soldered to the frame; and (C) the rear toggle is level with the frame.

The grips are inspector
marked and serial numbered to the gun. Old catalogs list these guns originally from $18-$35
depending on the year they were offered. All that
craftsmanship could be yours for $30.00; unbelievable.

This is the classic
American Eagle Luger, the basic collectors must have in any serious
collection. While these models are not 'rare' they are difficult to
obtain in excellent condition as this one represents. See Kenyon "Lugers
at Random" Page 104 BELOW: Left one of
the characteristics of the original finish on the 1900, in addition to
the fire blued pins is the latching device for the right toggle. This
protrusion was not milled into the frame but was silver soldered and can
always be seen since it "took" the blue in a different color. Right, the
toggle in full recoil you can see the exposure of the rear main axel pin
and the type II chequered thumb safety, which were used in a very
limited number of productions until the end of 1902.

It is entirely subjective to
give any Luger a rating of excellent or fine, just as it is to declare it
xx% blued or strawed. Few Lugers are out of the box new and these are
premium priced. Bluing percentages is like Beauty, in the eye of the
beholder. We strive to provide pictures
so you can judge for yourself if the gun meets your criteria.

As the Luger became more
recognized, DWM began an active export campaign both in North and South
America. While there was greater acceptance of the Luger in South
America the popularity of the Luger in the US was increased by the
placement of the US Seal with the American Eagle over the chamber. It
wasn't a contract, just marketing that brought about the American Eagle,
one of the most sought after variations of the Luger.

Holding an
early Luger, a timeless representation of a personal level of quality and
pride of craftsmanship, brings you back a hundred years to another century of weapons development.
This Luger represents a piece of history and a turning point in our
nations weapons procurement.

This is a beautify example of the 1900
American Eagle DWM US Army Test Parabellum. A 7.65mm pencil thin barrel this is the
classic Luger with the squeeze grip safety. Any questions to
josef@phoenixinvestmentarms.comWe reserve the right to
withdraw any firearm from an auction site that is sold over the counter.
Call for availability. We reserve the right to withdrawn any weapon sold over the counter.
This high
demand rare Luger is offered for $4,895.00 over the counter.